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maggiesdaddy
06-01-2011, 10:52 PM
Okay, well this may take a while ...

My name is Jerry, I am a full time college student planning to graduate with my B.A. in Clinical Psychology in May of 2012 (I will then go straight to graduate school where ever my wife works at the time). I am married and my wife will graduate with her MBA at the same time. I have a beautiful 5 month old daughter (6 months on June 10!), hence the name maggiesdaddy!

Growing up my parents were on every fad diet or new diet pill that came out. My dad also was a body builder and exercised so much that he would frequently make him physically ill (not to mention that he was a drug grower and user which I am sure also contributed to his health issues).

My father was also VERY violent and although he never hit us, we all lived in fear of what he would do for many years. We would have nightmares about him killing us or hurting someone.

All three of us children saw this and all of us have strange relationships with food now. My brother is over 400 lbs and will not seek help for his eating issues and my sister struggles accepting her body for how it looks (although she is normal weight for someone her age). I was "normal" until I was 16.5 years old. For over a year before that I was friends with someone who, after a year of our friendship, began sexually abusing me as well as playing sick mental games on me. After a year I managed to escape from that hell and my then "normal" eating habits began to change. I felt so out of control of my life and so hurt and no one would believe me when I told them what had happened (even my therapist). I don't use it as an excuse, but perhaps that is why my eating habits changed.

I began to binge eat. This went on for 4 years. I got married at 18, but the eating continued until I turned 20. At this point in time my wife and I decided to become vegetarian and my eating cooled down for a while. For the next two years I was either doing cardio 5 hours a week and eating 1,500 calories or I was eating everything I could get my hands on. Needless to say, I was at my highest weight and was in the worst health of my life.

Then about four months ago I started seeing a therapist for my eating issues and depression. I want so badly to be in this world as long as possible with my little girl and wife. I finally found a therapist that wasn't crazy (for lack of a better word) herself. She has found me with having anxiety, depression, OCD and binge eating disorder (which is not currently acknowledged in the DSM-IV).

After feeling better for about two months I decided to go vegan and found the transition fairly easy (other than the milk cravings at first). Then about two months ago I began doing research into raw food and began trying to acclimate my taste buds to it (I really HATE crunchy raw vegetables). Then about three weeks ago I began to eat 50% raw. I am now up to 66-80% raw (depending on the day). I feel fantastic, my eating is under control and I have lost 21 lbs!

I look forward to getting to know you all and to continue in the raw food lifestyle!

sport
06-02-2011, 03:48 AM
Welcome. It is nice to hear that you finally found a way of life that will work for you and I hope that along with a happier healthier body will come a happier and healthier mind.
You will never regret this decision.

laura-jane
06-02-2011, 05:16 AM
Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It sounds as though you are very aware re: your triggers and what has contributed to you being where you are today. Awareness is the first step to taking control and making some serious change in your life.

I wish you all the very best on your raw journey--both physically and emotionally.

I hope you can really give raw a good shot. I know that my moods, depression and overall mental happiness and well-being definitely improved once I had been raw for about 20-30 days or so. And I have stayed feeling GREAT emotionally for almost two years now (and I've been raw for almost 2 years, too).

Hopefully your wife can support you on this journey, too.

All the best to you Jerry.

DarkestBurningStar
06-06-2011, 09:40 AM
I am new here myself, but I wanted to welcome you and to thank you for sharing your story. I wish you and your family nothing but the best!

I'm sure many people here also have some dark experiences, but we can only use that to help us become better people. Your past is something that you are obviously growing from, and you can use that to help you be the best dad to your little girl that you can be!! :) And it sounds like your are definitely on the path to not only a healthier you, but also healing.

I look forward to talking to you more :)

P.S. I'm from Illinois too!